yay!

[winterbadger]

I tried the sample test from this site that markets guides to the 'Life in the UK' test and got an 83% (I like to think that if I had studied I would have given a correct answer to at least one of the two questions I missed).

It sounds as if the revised version of the test they are doing from this autumn onwards is slightly less full of ridiculous statistical trivia (if I were to fail, if and when I get to take this for real, and had to retake it, I shudder to think the obloquy which would be heaped on me...)

Of course, I was a sucker and bought the study materials for the old test, just for fun, back when it was announced. But I have no sorrow in knowing they will be obsolete.

Comments

[silme.livejournal.com]

I have the old book. I need to buy the new one and book a test. Otherwise, I'll continue putting it off. This week, buy the new study guide!

[winterbadger]

I would definitely wait to book until after September, when they start doing the new test. But I know what you mean about putting things off; the HO seem to have price rises faster than oil companies!

[silme.livejournal.com]

No, I want to do it in August when I'm off work. Not all of the centres have Saturday hours, and I have a feeling they're like the driving test centres -- the Saturday appointments book quickly. I remember having to wait for a Saturday driving test time! (Sheesh -- that was back in 2001. :) My closest centres are in Poole, open for four hours on Saturdays, and Portsmouth, not open on Saturdays. Both centres are about 30 miles from home.

Apparently, you can tell the test centre which book you've used. The second edition is supposed to be much simpler.

I should buy the bloody book this week and call the test centre as well to book a test for later this month, or I'll never get around to it.

[winterbadger]

Ah, right you are. I had not read carefully enough. There's an overlap, and they urge you to bring the book you studied with to show to the test administrators.

[cmlc.livejournal.com]

I had no idea they made people sit tests like this. Is this for residence, or citizenship, or something?
I tried the test for fun. I was a bit unsure about some of the questions, and I really think that most British people wouldn't have a clue about half of them, but to my surprise I got eleven out of twelve right. Personally I reckon that I got the "wrong" one right too, and that the site's answer is incorrect. I definitely don't agree with its answer.

[winterbadger]

It's for people seeking both citizenship and Indefinite Leave to Remain (basically permanent residency without full citizenship). It's new in the past few years, and I think it's largely a political reaction to the perceived "problem" with immigration.

Which one did you and the test disagree about?

[cmlc.livejournal.com]

Ah right, thanks.

The question was roughly, are Northern Irish and Scottish banknotes valid in the rest of the UK, or not? I said not. The test said that was wrong.

In fact these notes are technically not valid anywhere - they're promissory notes (I just looked it up on wikipedia) meaning that they're generally accepted as being equivalent to legal money. But they're not actually valid anywhere. Scottish notes are accepted in Scotland, but the further you get from Scotland, the less accepted they are. I've had them refused several times in Yorkshire, which isn't exactly the deep south in English terms. I wouldn't call that "valid" :-)

Depends what you mean by valid, I suppose. It's certainly possible to spend them in England - if you're lucky enough to find someone who'll accept them. But it's nowhere near guaranteed in England, as it is with Bank of England notes. Similarly here in Scotland people will look at Northern Irish notes very carefully.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banknotes_of_the_pound_sterling#Scotland

[silme.livejournal.com]

Banks in England will exchange them, even the plastic Northern Ireland fivers, for Bank of England notes. Larger shops will take them. I've had Waitrose down here in Lymington (as far south central as you can get without being in the Solent :) take Northern Irish tenners. Sometimes it also depends on the age of the clerks. I've had young clerks look at Northern Irish and Scottish notes with some suspicion. :)

[cmlc.livejournal.com]

Oh can you exchange them in English banks? I had no idea. Thanks. I shall resort to that in extremis. I think it would hurt my national pride to do it! If possible I'd draw out some English money for use in England and save my Scottish money for spending in Scotland...

I know what you mean about inexperienced clerks, but most of the rejections I've had have been from stone-faced Yorkshire women in their fifties :-)

[silme.livejournal.com]

When the test first was announced, a couple of years ago, my husband, with an electronics degree from the University of Wales, said one question that the BBC listed as a sample, was wrong. It asked what electrical voltage was used in the UK, and none of the multiple guess options were correct. Later, the BBC apologised for the blunder. :)

I should have obtained my citizenship prior to the silly test, but I kept putting it off. Now the fees are so high I fear I'd best the take the test and give the government the money before it's entirely out of reach. All of my other visas were free. My indefinite leave to remain was free and didn't require a test; now they want a test and 750 quid!

[cmlc.livejournal.com]

The profiteering bastards! Well good luck, I hope you get it before they put the prices up any more.

Then you'll be able to swap that for the joy of applying for a passport: the price for that seems to double every year :-)

[silme.livejournal.com]

The Home Office must have realised how they were missing an opportunity to make money. ;) Apparently, they don't think the fees are an issue as most people applying for such visas, they say, make £40,000 a year. Um, no. I'm a teacher.

Yes, I'll apply for a passport asap before that price increases again. :)

[sioneva.livejournal.com]

I managed to edge in on the naturalisation application JUST before they massively raised the fees at the beginning of April. Thank GOD - I cannot BELIEVE that they get away with, in some cases, over than 150% fee increases (and it didn't even make the news).

Still haven't heard back about my application, annoyingly.

[silme.livejournal.com]

I was going to do it before it went up to £278 and prior to the test, but I postponed due to stupidity. Now, I'm paying the cost -- in more ways than one!

How many months are they estimating now for naturalisation?

[sioneva.livejournal.com]

I was checking yesterday and it said 2.66 on average, which is crap, because I applied right at the end of March and still haven't heard back, making it just over four months that it's taken so far to process my (very straightforward) application.

I suppose someday I'll hear back from them!

[silme.livejournal.com]

Eek! They're that behind?! They used to be much better and actually followed the timeline. :(

[sioneva.livejournal.com]

I'd blame Royal Mail except that one of the solicitors at my husband's place of employment who is also American and filed a few days before I did hasn't has his processed either.

It's extremely frustrating - we've paid a LOT to the blooming Home Office!

My husband's theory is that since we squeezed in just before the massive price increase of April 1, that they're prioritising applications received after April 1 because those people paid more and we just get to wait until they have some free time.